The Somerville school system is not "failing that many families". If you are referring to the MCAS test scores, this has more to do with the demographics in Somerville. Over 50% of the kids in the schools are ELLs, meaning that English is not there first language. That drags down the scores. Compared to other cities with a significant percentage of non English speakers, Somerville does quite well.
Why do you think that it is rarely possible to improve the schools. The Somerville Schools have improved dramatically in the last quarter century, and this trajectory continues. We are on of the only cities that have a publicly sponsored PreK program, which is vey effective. And the Somerville High School is quite good.
Regarding your last comment, there is already plenty of empty space in Somerville for the kind of things you list. There plenty of room left at the Ames building, and I am sure the city would be interested in your ideas for the now empty Powder House school. Your willingness to let a vital entity like a public school die so that the carcass can be carved up for other uses is quite disturbing.
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Date: 2011-12-08 09:51 pm (UTC)Why do you think that it is rarely possible to improve the schools. The Somerville Schools have improved dramatically in the last quarter century, and this trajectory continues. We are on of the only cities that have a publicly sponsored PreK program, which is vey effective. And the Somerville High School is quite good.
Regarding your last comment, there is already plenty of empty space in Somerville for the kind of things you list. There plenty of room left at the Ames building, and I am sure the city would be interested in your ideas for the now empty Powder House school. Your willingness to let a vital entity like a public school die so that the carcass can be carved up for other uses is quite disturbing.